"The place of justice is an hallowed place."

Noting the significance of the idea of justice, McWhinney and Metcalfe sketch various intellectual and historical perspectives on the nature of justice. They also observe the rise of emphasis on the individual in Western civilization, and the development of a retributive conception of justice in response to individuals who commit crimes. They contrast this conception with a restorative conception of justice. In response to the harm to people and relationships caused by an person’s wrongdoing, restorative justice seeks understanding, redemption, and healing, for individuals, families, and the community as a whole.